How long did it take you to get pregnant with PCOS?

[northchesterforest]

Just that really - I've been trying for a year with no luck so far. Diagnosed 2 months ago... changing my diet and going on metaformin, inositol extra.

Also, did anything help you lose weight?

Took 2 years both times and I needed clomid for both.

Hi OP, I recently got my first BFP. We'd been trying since May 2023 with PCOS but I think only about 10 cycles as my cycles were longer at the start. About six months in I changed my diet and lifestyle. I found the book "getting pregnant with PCOS" by Claire Goodwin very helpful. She highlights there are several route causes of PCOS so need to work out your own route cause. Mine was insulin resistance and stress. I've also got lean PCOS so didn't need to lose weight but did need to add more protein into my diet (especially breakfast) and take inositol. After a few months my periods started to regulate to a 29-31 day cycle (previously was not uncommon for me to have 50+ day cycles). This also coincided with me having a hycosy back in January (I paid for this privately) which I think helped wake my ovaries up a bit.

So in summary, I know how frustrated you must be feeling but it will likely happen for you this year, especially if your cycles are regulating to help timing of TTC. It took about 6 months from me making the diet changes to getting a BFP and about 3 months to see my periods regulate.

If you're really concerned though you can get seen for infertility with PCOS early, you don't have to wait for the standard TTC time on the NHS if you have a preexisting condition like PCOS.

Best of luck x

Thank you both this is so so helpful

Periods are as and when they feel like turning up... usually every three months. I'm hoping to see some positive changes soon and will definitely be buying that book 📚
I find protein challenging as a vegetarian but I'm trying to introduce as much as possible as well. It's hard to limit the sugar.

On the weight topic, I'm a size 8-10 but my BMI is overweight at 11 stone and 5ft 5 and I'm not body confident

I have tried my whole life to lose weight on various diets and plans but nothing ever seems to make an impact

Im hoping that it isn't also affecting my ability to get pregnant

I cut out alcohol, started acupuncture, started weight training and took inositol. My periods became the most regular they have ever been and I got pregnant within 9 months. I obviously can’t say for certain if it was one or all of the above that made the difference but it led to regular cycles. I could go for 6 months at a time without one prior to the changes.

First pregnancy - Two years. I think we conceived the day we had our first fertility appointment that led to the PCOS diagnosis. Ended in miscarriage.

Second pregnancy - 11 months. Been on Metformin to regulate periods, and Thyroxine as although my TSH levels are "normal" (wouldn't be in most of the rest of the world, but whatever...) the fertility clinic wants a TSH level lower, so I get low dose Thyroxine. Through diet and exercise, finally managed to shed enough weight to be prescribed Clomid. Just one dose did the trick, and the resulting BFP is turning 5 and is off to school in September.

Third pregnancy - 5 months. DC1 is 17 months old. Wanted to wait a little longer before trying, but came down with baby rabies hard. Expecting to need Clomid again, so started on Metformin and begin dieting (cursed pandemic back up to BMI 38) in preparation. I also started inositol as I'd heard good things. Before periods even regulate, wonder upon wonder, a BFP. Was certain I was going to miscarry, but that faintest of faint lines turned 2 a few months ago, and is both the bane and delight of my life.

Losing weight with PCOS is hard. Incredibly hard. I had to basically cut sugar out completely, and pretty much all carbs too. Or at least swap for whole meal/grain varieties. Oh and sweet potato instead of regular potatoes too. For exercise I was doing couch to 5k, and playing badminton a couple times a week. My job is also pretty physical at times too.

Truthfully though I think the Thyroxine helped the most. Once I started that, the weight started melting away. Unfortunately the NHS is loath to prescribe it if you're within the (absolutely massive) normal range.

Wishing you the very best of luck.

I’m the same height and weight. Drs were not concerned with my BMI as it was and is classed within tolerance. For fertility issues anything over BMI 30 they’d expect you to lose weight as part of your treatment. Do try weight training though if you can, it will help you with your confidence.

DD1 - took over a year (nearly 2 as we were affected by closure of fertility services during the first lockdown) and only conceived on the third round of letrozole. BMI of 27 at the time.

DD2 - had been trying for around 9 months, was waiting for fertility appointment to do another round of letrozole when found out i had conceived natutally.

Taking metformin both times, was heavier on my second pregnancy but i had lost 10% of my body weight in the 3 months prior to conceiving to get my BMI below 30, which i think made all the difference. PCOS can affect insulin in a similar way to diabetes, so i find a diabetic friendly diet works for me - low carb, low sugar etc.

How long have you been trying for and how old are you? If you have been trying for a while already or you are over 35, I would get the ball rolling with the GP for a fertility referral. With wait times for fertility clinic / gynae appointments, you can keep trying naturally in the meantime. If you've only just started trying, keep monitoring and if it isnt happening in 12 months, get to the GP and get a referral sorted then.

I'm also veggie, have been most of my life though have relaxed it because TTC is more important to me. I eat some fish to help protein intake. For breakfast I have a protein smoothie with protein powder. You can get veggie protein (whey), but I find it too bloating so I do use collagen powder which comes from cows. I couldn't stomach eating a steak or anything like that so this is how I get around it. Also lots of beans and pulses. Instead of mash potatoes use cannelini bean mash, bean chilli, chickpeas in salads etc.

Where you carry weight is also important, but at size 8-10 (26-28” waist) it sounds like you’re a pear or hourglass body perhaps? It would still help to get to healthy bmi as extra fat isn’t great for hormones or periods. Good luck!

It took me 5 tries (over the course of 7 months) but it was a non viable pregnancy. I then got pregnant on the 2nd try after d&c which stuck.
I am certain that the only reasons I got pregnant both times was because I began using myo-inositol, fish oil, vitamin d and vitamin c. I got my partner using fish oil and vitamin d/c too. Before using these supplements, my ovulation wouldn’t happen until about day 50 then it came down to day 20.

Best of luck OP!